James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Very often, I call for action on issues which are a cause of stress and distress to people. On occasion, however, it is useful to stand up to welcome developments which will improve people's lives. I refer specifically to the new arrangements the Minister for Health has made with doctors to allow many more services, including chronic illness care, to be provided in general practice settings. The arrangements will cover things like diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive airways disease, cardiovascular disease and heart failure, which is increasingly common as many of us, fortunately, are living into older years. Something I have felt very strongly about will now be possible in general practice. This involves the 8,000 patients in the general medical services, GMS, scheme with haemochromatosis, an iron metabolism disorder which requires them to have a pint of blood taken off at frequent intervals to protect their health. Until now, this has been done in hospitals but it is well capable of being done in GP surgeries. Indeed, some GPs have been doing it. If one was a private patient, one could get it done, but as a GMS or uninsured patient, one could not. This welcome news for 8,000 people speaks to the many other things that could be done in primary care but which are currently taking place in hospitals at great inconvenience for patients who must travel long distances. It is also a cause of pressure on hospital services.

I welcome this deal and use the opportunity to call for further diagnostic services in general practice. I see my colleague, Senator Gabrielle McFadden, is here and note that Athlone primary care centre has access to diagnostics in the form of X-ray, which is working extremely well. It is also in Castlebar. I would like to see the facility also put in place in Balbriggan primary care centre given the explosion in population in the wider area it serves. It would allow GPs like me to diagnose and treat our patients in the community, never having to send them to hospital at all. It would be much more convenient for patients and provide great job satisfaction for doctors. I welcome this contract also in so far as it will stem the flow of younger doctors from the country and encourage older doctors to stay in practice for longer. It will mean more services and more doctors to deliver them for more of our people.